FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Women's Basketball saw a halftime lead slip away in the third quarter as it fell 77-64 to West Texas A&M Friday at Gayle Kaundart Arena at the Stubblefield Center.

The Lady Lions led 32-28 at the break, but only converted on one field goal attempt in the third quarter as they were outscored 22-5. The score was tied after the first four minutes of the quarter, but the Lady Buffs ended it on a 16-3 run.

UAFS was unable to get back within single digits in the fourth quarter.

West Texas A&M had a four-point lead late in the first quarter, but the Lions closed with a 5-0 run over the final 3:43 to take a 15-14 lead into quarter number two. UAFS would extend the lead to as many as eight before WTAMU cut it to four at the break.

Both teams crashed the offensive glass, with the Buffs collecting 17 offensive boards and the Lions 19. However, the Buffs outscored the Lions 23-7 in second chance points.

While shooting just 26.9 percent from the floor, UAFS stayed in the game by attacking and getting to the foul line. The Lions shot 24-for-32 from the charity stripe, led by a 12-for-17 effort from guard Ahsanti Eden.

Eden paced the Lions with 18 points, while reserve forward Shania Wilson chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds. Guard Paige Elston and forward Mar'Shalie Lollie each contributed eight points, with Elston adding seven boards and five steals. Lollie tallied nine rebounds.

UAFS was even or outscored WTAMU in every quarter but the third.

The Lions will seek their first conference win Sunday at 2 p.m. against Cameron University at the Stubblefield Center.